Who is responsible for the death of Duncan?

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

'Macbeth' By William Shakespeare Essay- who is responsible for the death of Duncan? In this essay, I set out to evaluate the killing of Duncan and find out who is responsible. I will expose the role of each character during the killing and develop this further. The characters I will be assessing are Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and the three witches. The witches play an important role in the play and put a lot of impact on Macbeth towards the killing. The opening scene of Macbeth implies evil and the word evil, is bonded to the whole play. Shakespeare opens the play dramatically and with great intensity. This easy for Shakespeare as his audience would believe the witches to be agents of the devil. To prove that Shakespeare's audience did believe in witches, they had regular witch-hunts to get rid of their 'evil influence.' Many innocent women were accused of being witches and burnt at the stake. Also, the audience see the witches before the humans, which sets the evil mood/atmosphere throughout the play. The witches are strong and powerful by the way the witches speak they speak in verse. ...read more.

Middle

It would be correct to say that the witches influence Macbeth and that they hold some sort of power or force over Macbeth as if they have put a spell over him. The witches have planted the idea into Macbeth's mind and the idea of committing murder to fulfil the witches' prophecy begins to disturb him... 'My thought, whose murder yet is fantastical Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smooter'd in surmise.' At the end of the scene, Macbeth does actually decides to let everything happen by fate and without any effort of his own as he rightly quotes in lines 143-144... ... 'If chance will have me king, why, Chance may crown me, Without my stir.' After the witches leave Macbeth and Banquo, Ross and Angus appear with a message from the king for Macbeth. The Thane of Cawdor has been executed for treason and his title has been awarded to Macbeth. Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is shocked on hearing this news and cannot believe it. Macbeth questions Ross and Angus about this new title and says that the Thane of Cawdor is still alive and this is impossible. ...read more.

Conclusion

They leave Macbeth to decide between 'good' and 'evil'. Macbeth chooses 'evil' and the witches do not persuade him into it. The person, who does persuade Macbeth into choosing 'evil', is his wife, Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth plays an extremely large part in the death of Duncan. Had it not been for Lady Macbeth's interference, Macbeth would not have murdered Duncan. She is determined to be the one to kill Duncan but she does not carry out the deed, as she also knows the consequences that it would lead to. This is also another reason why she convinces Macbeth into killing Duncan. This is proved when Macbeth appears at his castle. When he and Lady Macbeth discuss the matter, it is Lady Macbeth who appears to be the stronger partner. She is determined that Duncan will not leave their castle alive. She then urges Macbeth to disguise his evil intentions. Lady Macbeth uses the powerful image of dashing out her newborn child's brains in order to shame Macbeth. Macbeth wonders if they might fail. Lady Macbeth accepts the possibility of failure but urges that if Macbeth is courageous, they will not fail. She then outlines her plan. She is the practical one and finally persuades Macbeth who says; ' I am settled, and bend up, Each corporal agent to this terrible feat'. ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Macbeth section.

Related GCSE Macbeth essays

Also like Lady Macbeth using a form of persuasion to root ideas into his mind. When Macbeth first met the witches it was after the battle (Act 1 Scene 3, Macbeth and Banquo enter at line 38). When Macbeth first met the witches he was with his friend Banquo.

She says, 'Had he not resembled / my father as he slept, I had done't.'. This is the first indication Shakespeare gives that Lady Macbeth has a conscience and is not pure evil. In the following scene when the murder of the king is discovered by the thanes, Macbeth manages

Macbeth is very clear in what he must do to secure the thrown without challenge. "We have scorched the snake but have not scorned it" This implies that there are more murders to come. Macbeth is not troubled by the murders he has committed.

This seems to unnerve the brave Macbeth and Banquo, sensing this, asks why Macbeth seems so jumpy and afraid. He says Macbeth is "rapt" meaning in a trance. Macbeth then asks 'how on earth' could he be Lord of Cawdor.

This then resulted in him changing his mind: "I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: false face must heart doth know." Had Macbeth not allowed Lady Macbeth to speak for any longer, Macbeth wouldn't have changed his mind - Duncan may well have lived.

To these words Macbeth cannot argue. Consequently it may be fair to say that if it had not been for Lady Macbeth's unmistakable desire and need for the queen ship and deadly persuasion, Macbeth would not have murdered King Duncan at that stage.

What are you?" This is when he becomes quite anxious to find out what these witches have to say. At first the witches were not very keen to say anything to Macbeth and Banquo, so it could be said that they wouldn't have said anything if not confronted by Macbeth and Banquo, but

She wants him to kill the king but feels he is; "too full o' the milk of human kindness." Lady Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 5 Lady Macbeth is a strong powerful person and reacts violently when Macbeth acts cowardly about being afraid of the murder and what it would lead to.